SUPERNOVAS which took place MILLIONS of years ago could have caused EXTINCTION on Earth

The supernova is thought to have occurred between 163 and 326 light-years away (50–100 parsecs) from Earth.

Harmful ionising radiation can sterilise nearby inhabited planets and one researcher wanted to discover if it was the cause for mass extinction on Earth based on geologic evidence of nearby supernovae.

Astrophysicist at Washburn University in Kansas Brian Thomas investigated cosmic rays from the supernovae as they propagated through the atmosphere to the surface to understand their effect on living organisms.

Speaking to Astrobiology Magazine, Mr Thomas said: “There were changes, especially in Africa, which went from being more forested to more grassland.

«We are interested in how exploding stars affect life on Earth, and it turns out a few million years ago there were changes in the things that were living at the time.

«It might have been connected to this supernova.»

During the time period, geologic records show an elevated global concentration of Iron-60 which is a radioactive isotope produced during a supernova.

There was a change in the abundance of species during the Pliocene-Pleistocene period.

No major mass extinctions happened but there was a higher rate of extinction in general.

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There was a change in the abundance of species during the Pliocene-Pleistocene period

He used global climate models, recent atmospheric chemistry models and radiative transfer (the propagation of radiation through the layers of the atmosphere) to investigate and better understand how the flux of cosmic rays from supernovae would alter Earth’s ozone layer.

Referring to the changes in species in the fossil record, Mr Thomas said “it fits”.

Computational physicist at the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science in Seattle Dimitra Atri said: «This work is an important step towards understanding the impact of nearby supernovae on our biosphere.”